Photographer Spotlight: Kate Grabowski - Kate Marie Portraiture

Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

What's in your camera bag & what's your favorite lens? 

Camera Bag: (2) Canon r6 bodies RF converter since I'm still utilizing my old lenses canon 50mm 1.2 canon 135mm 2.0 canon 100mm macro

What is your favorite thing to do when you aren't working?

When I'm not shooting, I love spending time with my family! I have two kiddos - my son is 10 and my daughter is 7. One of our favorite things to do as a family is our "Friday night family night" tradition - we have popcorn and charcuterie for dinner and snuggle up and watch a movie, it is a fun tradition that I'm cherishing as I know that they won't want to spend every Friday night at home as they get older. We also love walking our rescue pup, Rosie, taking our Jeep out for some light trail rides, and spending as much time at the lake or the beach as often as we can!

Who inspires you?

Who inspires me... this is a tough one to answer... So many people and so many things... From a photography standpoint, I've always been inspired by the female form, at all stages of life. I love photographing more intimate sessions and helping the women that I photograph to see how beautiful they really are - whether they are a boudoir client, a branding client, or a brand new mother who just welcomed a miraculous new life into the world. In terms of photographers that I gain inspiration from, Elizabeth Messina, Shannon Griffin, Kara Marie, just to name a few, who seem to really be able to connect with their subjects and create images that portray sensuality, vulnerability, and true femininity.

What makes your brand unique?

I think that paying close attention to my client experience and always striving to find ways to improve upon it and how I can better serve my clients makes my brand unique. I pay attention to detail, I try to connect with them and get to know them on a personal level before we begin shooting. I also try to incorporate my own love language and my favorite things into the experience in little ways such as through my client welcome bag/box, beautiful thank you notes, etc.

What's your favorite aspect of your business?

I love all of the creative aspects of the business (the shooting, the editing, the packaging, etc), I think my favorite aspect along a client's journey with me is when I am able to deliver the final product to them. To be able to hand over tangible memories that they will be able to sit down and sift through, to recall how they felt during that time in their life, and to be able to connect with others as they reminisce.

What business advice would you give to someone overwhelmed with starting out?

Put on your blinders. Don't worry about what anyone else is doing - what they're shooting, what kind of art they're creating, what kind of experience or products that they are offering. Focus on what YOU truly love - focus on photographing a subject that you're passionate about, offer products that make your heart sing, and don't feel like you need to add something to your client experience just because you feel like everyone else is doing it. You do you.

What's your Starbucks drink?

Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso... with 1/2 as many pumps of syrup as they normally use!

Where can we find your work?

Website: http://www.katemarieportraiture.com/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/katemarieportraiture